No. The employer’s first step is to file with the Labour Department’s Supplementary Labour Unit under the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS) — complete local recruitment first and obtain in-principle quota approval; the Immigration visa comes after. Reversing the order gets nowhere: Immigration cannot process a visa without a quota. Labour Services Company Ltd (Labour Department employment agency licence 81090) handles the whole process. Labour Department and Immigration texts prevail; this is not legal advice.
Last verified against Labour Department / Immigration Department publications: 2026-09-14.
The correct order: Labour Department first, Immigration after
Complete local recruitment as the Labour Department requires, then file the ESLS application with the Supplementary Labour Unit. Only after in-principle (quota) approval do you match candidates, sign contracts, and apply to Immigration for visas. The visa depends on the quota — skipping straight to Immigration will not be accepted.
Why Immigration is not step one
Immigration checks the Labour Department quota approval when reviewing imported-worker visas; without a quota the visa application has no statutory basis. Quota approval generally takes about 3–4 months, plus the local recruitment window; from 16 June 2026 the F&B recruitment window is 6 weeks.
How we handle it
We pre-check industry, post and staffing ratio, run the local recruitment, file and follow up, and route the visa stage through the designated Mainland labour-export enterprises. Labour Services Company Ltd holds Labour Department employment agency licence 81090 — verify us on the official register.
What happens after in-principle approval?
Match and interview candidates, sign contracts, then apply to Immigration for the visa. The Employees Retraining levy of HK$9,600 per worker is paid in one lump sum after visa approval and before issue.
Can I file with Labour Department and Immigration at the same time?
No. The Immigration visa application requires the Labour Department quota approval first.
How long does the whole process take?
Local recruitment about 1 month (6 weeks for F&B posts from 16 June 2026), quota approval about 3–4 months, visa about 1.5 months. Current official timings prevail.